We’re in the business of changing lives. We’re not in the business of selling checking accounts;, we’re not in the business of selling loans. It’s about ‘how did you change a life today?
This purpose-driven value, explains veteran banker Dawn Brahma, was a significant factor in her decision to become Kemba Financial Credit Union’s Chief Sales Officer last May, and one she believes attracts other professionals to the credit union, which is headquartered in Gahanna.
The way Kemba changes lives is by enriching and strengthening the financial lives of its members. They help people get their first home, help them plan for their kids’ college expenses, and even help them retire without the fear of having to come out of retirement to make ends meet. The stories members share with their bankers are testaments to the impact Kemba has on everyday people.
A recent example Brahma recounted concerned a woman whose son had passed. The woman had been living with him in his home, and he had told her that if she ever needed help to go to Kemba, where he banked but she didn’t. It quickly became clear to the Kemba associates working with her that her ability to keep the home was tenuous based on expenses. They helped her create a budget and a way to manage the finances that would allow her to remain in her home. Brahma says these stories remind everyone working at Kemba that they are part of something bigger than themselves.
The mission to enrich peoples’ financial lives extends to member communities across Central Ohio. Kemba partners with groups that support financial literacy and those that provide basic human needs. Here in Gahanna, Kemba supports Gahanna Residents in Need (GRIN) with financial support, community outreach and volunteerism. And Brahma herself will be teaching financial literacy to students at Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools this Spring.
Social responsibility is also a priority at Kemba. At the recommendation of the credit union’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Council, Kemba participated in the Komen Race for the Cure, the Columbus Asian Festival, Juneteenth, the Columbus Pride March, the African American Male Wellness Walk, and Festival Latino. Kemba demonstrates its strong commitment to Gahanna through its support and participation in several local organizations including the Gahanna Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Gahanna Education Foundation. And in 2023 Kemba sponsored the Gahanna Fireworks, the 33rd Annual GAC Golf Tournament, the Sunny 95 Block Party, Taste of Gahanna, Gahanna Creekside Hops and Vines Fest, the City’s Health and Wellness Fair, the Great Gahanna Goblin Fest and the Gahanna Holiday Lights Kickoff.
Beyond being a community-minded corporate citizen, Kemba demonstrates commitment to its own employees. Kemba was recognized this year as a Best Place to Work by Business First magazine and was named a Top Workplace Honoree in Columbus CEO Magazine. “When Mark DeCello became president & CEO seven years ago, part of what he wanted to do was increase the investment in associates and make sure the programs were equitable,” explains Brahma. Kemba created workshops for managers with the goal of enabling better career conversations with their associates. For associates, Kemba created workshops about how to own their careers. The credit union encourages associates to involve themselves in special projects that give them exposure to various departments and managers. There are also formal mechanisms in place that help employees explore career changes, such as going from frontline sales to human resources.
These activities form a virtuous circle that benefits members, employees, the community, and Kemba itself, which remains financially strong. States Brahma,